cha mẹ
[t͡ɕaː˧˧ mɛ˧˨ʔ]word by word
The English phrase 'parents' is translated into Vietnamese as cha mẹ.
The term refers to the father and mother of a person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase cha mẹ is a compound of cha, meaning 'father' and mẹ, meaning 'mother'.
Which one should you use?
While cha mẹ is a standard way to express the concept, bố mẹ and ba mẹ are common alternatives used in everyday speech.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Cha mẹ is the more formal or literary way to say 'parents' compared to the colloquial bố mẹ or ba mẹ.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Bố mẹ is frequently used in Northern Vietnam, while ba mẹ is commonly used in Southern Vietnam. Both are used in more casual, everyday speech.
Did you know?
- Because Vietnamese relies heavily on family-based pronouns, saying the word 'parents' often dictates how you must address yourself and others in a sentence.
- In Vietnamese culture, the concept of cha mẹ extends beyond biological parents to include parents-in-law, who are often addressed with the same level of filial respect.
- The word mẹ is an ancient nursery word, shared with many other languages in the region like Khmer and Mon, much like the English word 'mama'.
Examples in context
- Họ sống với cha mẹ.They live with their parents.This sentence shows how to say someone lives with their cha mẹ.Tatoeba #8958603 by dotheduyet1999, translation #8958593 by Nylez
- Nghe lời cha mẹ đi.Obey your parents.This sentence is a command to obey one's cha mẹ.Tatoeba #13640909 by leucammieuvu, translation #2549027 by CK
- Cha mẹ tôi đã ly dị.My parents are divorced.This sentence describes a situation where one's cha mẹ are divorced.Tatoeba #13249717 by leucammieuvu, translation #456461 by lukaszpp
- Cha mẹ tôi sống ở Hà Nội.My parents live in Hanoi.
- Bố mẹ tôi đi du lịch vào cuối tuần.My parents are going on a trip this weekend.
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mai and Minh are talking about their families.
- MaiCha mẹ bạn hiện đang ở đâu?Where are your parents now?
- MinhCha mẹ mình đang ở quê.My parents are in the countryside.
- MaiBạn có thường xuyên thăm cha mẹ không?Do you visit your parents often?
- MinhMình về thăm họ mỗi tháng một lần.I go back to visit them once a month.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (cha, mẹ) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cha, cha mẹ, mẹ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
